[quote="
BethnalGreenHammer74 If not Diop, then why don’t we try Cardoso in there alongside Rice?
Turns to Stone
It might work.
But my issue is that this is not a new problem. It's not an issue caused by injuries. It's caused because of bad management and planning.
This was a problem at home to Wolves last year when we started with Noble and Wilshere in midfield, and that was in August 2018. Here we are one year later and the problem has actually been exacerbated as we have lost Obiang whilst Noble and Sanchez are another year older.
For me, looking at that squad we just seem completely one-paced in midfield and that is where I would be targeting if I was an opposition manager. Kick Wilshere out of the game, double-up on Rice, push the full-backs on and wait for our ageing and injury-prone midfield to
tire and wilt.[/quote]
Love to see Cardoso or Zaba given a go at DM next to Rice. Cardoso being taller & more aggressive with the energy of youth & a sweet LF. Zaba with more defensive nous & experience to be the organizer/Leader. He also speaks 2 of our predominant languages to communicate & cajole the likes of Fornals/Lanzini .
Formation wise 3 at the back with wing backs may be more effective with our current personnel until we can get that elusive B2B player with physical presence.
---------------------------Fab
---------------------------Diop
--------------fredricks----------- Balbuena
Antonio ----------------Rice-------------------Masuaku
-------------- Fornals----------- Anderson
---------------------------Lanzini
---------------------------Haller
or
---------------------------Fab
---------------------------Diop
------------Balbuena----------- Cardoso
Fredricks ----------------Rice------------------Masuaku
--------------Anderson----------- Fornals
-----------------------------------------Antonio
---------------------------Haller
Wilshire & Lanzini both need more stamina for 90mins before we can rely on them. Lanzini should only play in behind Haller as 2nd striker/tip of diamond because of the dangerous (for us) areas he can lose the ball without recovering adequetly.
Antonio offers another dimension in behind & has the brawn we need to battle up top.
Overall more speed & energy through midfield is a must.